US tourists kidnapped in Yemen

Security officials said the man and woman were seized while travelling in al-Hudaydah province west of the capital San'a.

Taxi driver Mohammed Saleh, who was driving them, said six gunmen stopped them on the road and took them to the al-Hamra village. Al-Sharda tribesmen said the hostages were now "guests" in the village.

Kidnappings are endemic in Yemen and are usually carried out by disgruntled tribesmen hoping to win concessions from the government. In the past few years, however, al-Qaida has begun kidnapping foreigners as well, often with lethal results.

They often take place in rural areas where security is fragile. It is this weak government authority outside San'a that is believed to have tempted al-Qaida to seek refuge there, posing a threat to the interests of the West and its allies in a strategic part of the Middle East.

Western powers have been increasing their support to Yemen's security forces to enable them to deal better with the

al-Qaida threat.